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Astros Minors: Hooks’ Pitching Returns to Dominance
Amidst roster turnover, the Hooks took series over San Antonio and Midland this week. Astros minor league report.
Keegan Yuhl has been called up to Triple-A @FresnoGrizzlies. Yuhl was 8-3 with a 3.04 ERA with #CCHooks this season. pic.twitter.com/81ZjMlTJ51
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) August 2, 2016
What’s better than a 12 strikeout performance from one of the Hooks starters? Back to back 12 strikeout performances by a pair of Hooks hurlers, Francis Martes and Evan Grills, who led the Hooks pitching staff this week. They both dominated their starts against the San Antonio Missions early in the week. Corpus Christi pitchers combined to strike out X and walk X.
The major league club added pitching depth last week, calling up James Hoyt and Joseph Musgrove from the Fresno Grizzlies. Those moves, plus the Josh Fields trade to the Dodgers left several rosters in holes in AAA that were filled by Corpus Christi Hooks pitchers Keegan Yuhl, Aaron West, Albert Minnis, and Brian Holmes. Right-handed pitcher Jacob Dorris was promoted from High-A Lancaster. It was announced on Sunday that Derek Fisher would be promoted to the Grizzlies as well.
Game Results
Monday: vs. San Antonio W 7-4
Tuesday: vs. San Antonio W 4-2
Wednesday: vs. San Antonio W 6-2
Thursday: @ Midland L 1-7
Friday: @ Midland W 3-2
Saturday: @ Midland L 2-7
Sunday: @ Midland W 3-1
Second Half Record: 21-23, 3rd in the South Division, eight games behind Midland
Next: Offense
Offense
Hooks Slugger @Hosschase_42 mashed this solo shot in the 8th last night, the #CCHooks 3rd HR of the game. #IMHOOKED pic.twitter.com/gtNx6SixKh
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) August 2, 2016
A Derek Fisher grand slam was one of five long balls from Hooks hitters this week as the Corpus Christi bats continue to heat up from a rough start to the second half. The team batting average was .250 this week, compared to just .216 last week and 10 of 12 Hooks batters had at least one extra-base hit.
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Leading the way with four extra-base hits was Dominican outfielder Ramon Laureano. Since joining the Hooks on July 21st (13 games), Laureano’s slash line of .286/.386/.592 with a .978 OPS. If that seems good, that’s because it is. The AA leader in OPS, Luke Volt of Springfield, has an OPS of .843. The current production from Laureano is likely unsustainable, but the newcomer is making a name for himself in the Texas League.
Perhaps one of the more underrated players in the Houston Astros organization is the Hooks’ own Garrett Stubbs. Stubbs leads all catchers in every level of Houston’s minor league system (with at least 25 games played behind the plate) in hits (81), doubles (17), home runs (8), RBI (48), stolen bases (11), batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.444), and OPS (.833). This week was no exception as Stubbs had a double and home run with three runs drive in.
Next: Defense and Pitching
Pitching and Defense
https://twitter.com/IslandersBSB/status/761653998013321216
Yuhl, Holmes, Minnis, and West were a big loss for the Hooks. Those four combined for a 19-8 record in 26 starts this season with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.257 WHIP. Yuhl is 2016 innings leader for the Hooks and had been a fixture of the Corpus Christi staff all year. The Hooks pitching staff posted a 4.70 ERA last week and losing more pitching talent meant several of the newer additions to the Hooks pitching corps would have to step up in a big way.
And step up they did. Martes (6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 12 K) and Grills (7.2 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K) led the way, but also impressive were newcomers Trent Thornton and Ryan Thompson. Thornton made his second AA start of the season last Monday, earning his first win. Thornton struck out six batters and allowed seven hits and just one run via a solo home run. His second start of the week was not as wonderful, allowing two more home runs and six earned runs in a losing effort. Ryan Thompson worked three and two-thirds innings in relief, allowing one run on four hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Related Story: Corpus Christi Player Spotlight: Ryan Thompson
Cy Sneed bounced back in a big way, allowing just one unearned run in six innings of work on Friday. This was his first start of the year in which he went at least six innings without allowing a run. After a rough July (1-2, 8.25 ERA) Sneed has posted two consecutive quality starts.
***Statistics from MiLB.com and Baseball Reference***